UNION leaders have expressed concern after aerospace giant Rolls-Royce confirmed it was looking for job cuts at its Barnoldswick site.

The firm, Pendle's biggest employer, has offered voluntary severance packages to a number of shopfloor and staff employees at the factory.

The aero engine firm said that it was offering pay-offs to employees but stressed it wasn't a redundancy situation. A spokesman for the company said that the move was part of a company-wide initiative under the banner 'Better Performance Faster' to improve efficiency at all its sites.

He added that there was no definite figure on the number of jobs that would be affected but it is believed to be no more than 30.

It is understood staff at the Barnoldswick site are the first within its division to be offered the severance package.

AEEU convenor at the site, John Boardman, has now written to Julia King, Derby-based managing director of the fan systems division of which Barnoldswick is part.

"We are confused as to why this is necessary. We understood the 'Better Performance Faster' initiative wasn't about working people out of a job but about doing more with the same people.

"With the workload that we have here we can't see any need to lose jobs. I have written to Julia King asking for a full explanation."

It is understood the voluntary severance packages have been offered to older members of staff nearing retirement age.

The Barnoldswick site manufactures components including wide chord fan blades for Rolls-Royce engines.

The aero engine group has won a string of major orders over recent months and .the Barnoldswick site has recruited around 300 employees over the past two years, taking the workforce to more than 1,300.

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